MARLON Samuels already had one strike against his name under Cricket Australia's process for dealing with dubious bowling actions before Darren Lehmann publicly queried it.

But it was Lehmann, the Brisbane Heat coach, who landed in hot water for saying what many others were thinking as Samuels bowled for the Melbourne Renegades on Saturday night.

Under CA's doubtful bowling action procedure, a bowler's action is reported when he is mentioned by three different umpires in the same season. Umpires can also bypass the ''mentions'' process and lodge a direct report if they feel it is warranted.

Samuels, the big-hitting West Indies batsman, was not reported by the umpires at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night, but it's understood his action had been mentioned in one of his two previous BBL games.

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The Renegades backed Samuels and were furious about Lehmann's outburst after the Melbourne team chased down the Heat's total with five balls to spare.

''I've spoken to the umpires about it,'' Lehmann said.

''I just want something done. He couldn't bowl in the IPL last year, yet he can bowl in the BBL.

''We've got to seriously look at what we're doing. Are we here to play cricket properly or what?

''If he's deemed legal, I'm totally understanding of that. But from my point of view from 20 years' cricket, I've got a problem with 120km/h off no steps.''

Lehmann said Samuels' action should be reviewed.

''I'm sure they'll go through the process, but it doesn't help us now, does it?'' he said.

''And it doesn't help any of the teams that have played the Renegades. So that's certainly a query I've got. They've got to have a look at it.''

Lehmann was charged under rule nine of CA's code of behaviour, which states a player or official must not ''denigrate or criticise another player or denigrate or criticise an official, umpire, referee or team against which they have played or will play, whether in relation to incidents which occurred in a match or otherwise; denigrate or criticise another player or official by inappropriately commenting on any aspect of his or her performance, abilities or characteristics."

CA's executive general manager (commercial), Mike McKenna, who runs the BBL, denied it had shot the messenger rather than tackle the issue. ''It's integral to the competition that these issues are raised in the right way and the right way is for the match officials … to determine whether a bowler's action is appropriate or not,'' he said.

''What concerns us is not Marlon Samuels at the moment; it's the fact that Darren Lehmann has made comments about his own personal view and he is not one of the people charged with the responsibility of really determining it.

''He has a vested interest as a coach and may have an opinion, but it's not a valid opinion in terms of the process.''

Samuels has had problems with his action in the past.

He was reported by on-field umpires during this year's IPL but subsequently cleared to bowl for the winning West Indies in the World Twenty20. He also had extensive remedial work.